Research Methods Lesson 1

1
Research Methods Lesson 1

• Aims, Hypothesis, Variables

2
Formulating Research Questions

• Research starts with a research question,
  something that the psychologist wants to find
  out. E.g.
• What makes some people more obedient than others?
• Because there are so many different reasons,
  research must be carried out.

3
Formulating Aims

• It would be difficult to investigate all the
  different aspects at once so an aim would focus
  on one factor.
• For example the investigator may focus on
  confidence levels.
• To investigate whether a persons confidence
  level has an effect on the likelihood of them
  obeying.

4
Formulating Hypotheses

• The aim is based on a theory and the theory
  should lead to predictions.
• A prediction may be that people who are more
  confident may be less obedient. This doesnt
  constitute a hypothesis yet, as the variables we
  are testing need to be operationalised.

5
Operationalise

• In the example there are 2 variables
• Confidence
• Likelihood of obeying
• The psychologist may test confidence with a
  questionnaire and likelihood of obeying by
  observing whether the same participants obey an
  unreasonable request.

6
Research Hypothesis (precise prediction) H1

• Participants who score above average on a
  questionnaire measuring confidence are
  significantly less likely to follow an
  unreasonable request made by a stranger in
  uniform compared to participants who score below
  average.

7
Carrying out the study

• The psychologist would test their hypothesis by
  collecting data. If the results support the
  hypothesis then this is accepted, however if the
  research provides no backup for the prediction
  then this must be rejected.

8
Null Hypothesis H0

• As it is possible that the H1 may be rejected, a
  psychologist must formulate a null hypothesis.
• There is no significant difference in the number
  of times participants follow an unreasonable
  request from a stranger in uniform whether they
  score below or above average on a questionnaire
  measuring confidence.

9
Correlation

• So far the hypotheses in this PPT have predicted
  difference. There are also correlation studies.
  These test for relationship between variables.
• There is a significant correlation between
  participants scores on a self-esteem test and on
  the number of friends they have.

10
IVs and DVs

• There are 2 types of variable as we have already
  stated, however these are completely different to
  each other.
• Independent Variable this is the variable that
  the psychologist manipulates.
• Dependent Variable this is the variable that the
  psychhologist measures.

11
Previous example

• Participants who score above average on a
  questionnaire measuring confidence are
  significantly less likely to follow an
  unreasonable request made by a stranger in
  uniform compared to participants who score below
  average.
• Where is the IV and DV?